An Innovation Foundation for DOE: Roles and Opportunities

In recent years, Congress has created a number of agency-related nonprofit research foundations to provide a flexible, efficient method to establish and enhance public-private research and development partnerships. The Conference Report on the Energy and Water Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of both Chambers of Congress a report on the value of creating a nonprofit foundation with requirements as outlined in the House and Senate Reports. The referenced Reports directed the DOE to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration (the Academy) to convene an expert Panel and issue a report regarding the value of creating a nonprofit foundation to assist the Department to advance its mission of addressing the nation’s energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.